(Taking place in a time-spanning moment during Green with N-V)
Green Dragonmask
Pulling the mask from the Green Wyrmspeaker Neron-Vain, Dex Shadow, Necromancer of the Arcane Brotherhood initially finds himself floating isolated in an infinite darkness. As the mask attunes to him, he is overcome by a surge of joy, like the rush of sweets on the tongue, in the embrace of its seductive power. These powers include influence over Unknowns, immunity to their dragon breath and other poisons, ability to breathe underwater, extended Darkvision and the notorious draconic Blindsight (intense awareness of all nearby).
Fading memories of the prior mask-wearer linger just long enough to be caught. Prince Neron-Vain, impatient with desire to rule the Misty Forest kingdom of his overly cautious father King Melandrach, is approached by the green dragon resident of those lands, Chuth. Neron-Vain and Chuth convince wild elves of the lands, never keen on being subjects of a kingdom, to form a rebellion against Melandrach (which Neron-Vain pretends to fight for his father, alongside his older and loyal-to-dad brother Prince Alagarthas). These are not very successful while Chuth remains cautiously behind the scenes - but that changes when the pair are recruited by Severin Silrajin into this rebirth of the Cult of the Dragon.
They pledge their loyalty to the cause and emboldened with the backing of the Cult, the rebellion becomes aggressive, including ruthless direct attacks by Chuth on the settlements, which are plundered for treasures to send to Severin for the hoard needed to lure Tiamat. The needed wealth has been met noted at the Sounding of the Draakhorn, so now the overthrow is ready to happen. Galin, a cowardly forest guide from Altand who begged for his life during the attack on that settlement, has been placed as Altand's warden - seeming to have heroically saved the town. Now Galin is an informant readying the coup.
But this story has come to its end on the edges of Vyerith's assassin's knives and the flaming sword of Runi. The vast darkness begins to fill with thoughts and voices and Dex is drawn into a conversation and the vision of purple-robed figures within an echoing expanse of the caldera of an extinct volcano.
Wyrmspeakers
Looking at his hands, Dex notes himself to be translucent, a projection of himself. Four among the purple robes at the great table wear masks similar to this green one. Three of them shimmer with a similar translucence. The single solid wyrmspeaker wears the red dragonmask, and can be none other than Severin himself.
The wearer of the black dragonmask appears to be a Drow elf. His ghost is positioned next to some sort of black devil creature wearing the purple robes and solid - attending the place physically. The wearer of the white dragonmask is human or perhaps half-elven or another half-breed. The wearer of the blue dragonmask is first to note Dex's approach, and is seen to remove the mask before suddenly vanishing before any observations can be made.
The attention of the other three remains on a great map on a table, which presents a view of Faerûn. This map shows what are clear plans for attacks on locations familiar to Dex:
- the humble town of Phandalin,
- the city of Neverwinter,
- its nearby Neverwinter Wood,
- a cloudy castle near the Spine of the World mountains,
- the city of Silverymoon (near where this party had escaped the Underdark),
- and the western region of the Misty Forest.
Other locations targeted were places with which the fae necromancer was not so familiar:
- a lodge in the Greypeak Mountains,
- an encampment on the road between Waterdeep and Cormyr,
- and on a separate, more detailed but confusing city map - several marked dwellings.
Overwhelmed by all this, it is only later Dex strains to recall the whisperings and echoing voices and other details. There were dragons - so many dragons there. These attacks would be revenge on losses taken so far - surely today's attack on Neron-Vain and Chuth would get the same?
A drumming sound becomes increasingly deafening, until it is revealed to be Dex's own heartbeat as he heaves to catch his breath, his body slick with sweat and regaining awareness peering at his own trembling hands holding the mask before him. Runi and Vyerith stare at him, weapons ready to act if their companion had been lost to the device...
Dex speaks to give life to a realization before it passes, "Many who crossed the Cult of the Dragon are about to die... a warning and message that all who oppose will face their wrath... and most certainly this now includes us."
(Next: TBD)